WATCH: Part 2 – A Call to Plant a Church

A week ago I added a blog post featuring Shawn McCain and his church plant in Austin. He spoke about the vision he has for RezAustin and what it is like to work in a start-up church plant. As I mentioned in the post, Shawn is a great thinker. He is also, humble and clear in his views.

Part 2:

I wanted to press him further about the ceremonial aspects of the church plant. When I was there for Ash Wednesday it was crowded with young families and clouded with incense! Those two things to do not often go together. So I was perplexed. Right after our first interview was complete, we engaged a bit more about the role of liturgy in the life of a new church plant. He got excited…but I stopped him. I said, “let’s turn on the camera and make this next segment a discussion about liturgy.” You can see our conversation below.

Right after our first interview was complete, we engaged a bit more about the role of (high) liturgy in the life of a new church plant. Shawn was energetic about it. He was very clear that ‘Incarnational Missiology’ was at the core of what he felt God calling him to do. He was about to make a point about a “Liturgy Tour” that he offers his new members, but that is when I stopped the conversation. I said, “Let’s turn on the camera and make a next segment on this topic and discussion about liturgy.”

You can watch our conversation below.

Shawn represents a group of young leaders coming into the ACNA who are NOT deconstructing the liturgy of the Anglican Books of Common Prayer. Rather, they are going the other way. As they say in England, “These chaps have gone up-the-candle!” (A reference to becoming more ‘High Church”. ) These leaders are getting MORE formal!

Archbishop Duncan said one time that many young leaders had an “Anglican Fever.” He means that young Anglicans have a desire to peer inside the treasure chest of liturgies, church history, forms and formularies, and showcase those that seem relevant and authentic to the Gospel. Shawn is having success doing just that.

Shawn makes a very vivid near the end. He says that the liturgy puts on the display the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, a ‘low-on-the-candle’ leader would say that the Gospel is fully on display in the Word rightly preached! There you have it. The breadth of the Anglican heritage on a candlestick!

Shawn is a terrific young leader. He is sharp and focused. But I think also that there is an “intuitive” gift that his young man has. Watch and see if you see what I am talking about.

Here is Part Two of our “Call to Plant a Church”

Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates and resources from LeaderWorks